Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren and Western Sydney Wanderers’ American forward Kristen Hamilton have been voted by their peers as the PFA’s Players of the Month for October/November.
The pair were determined by the PFA membership as the most outstanding performers during the opening rounds of the A-League and W-League, leading their respective player polls ahead of their fellow nominees.
With voting encompassing the A-League’s first seven rounds across October and November, Maclaren edged out Adelaide United’s Riley McGree and Western United’s Alessandro Diamanti despite playing just four matches during that period.
Missing three fixtures due to injury and international duty, Maclaren was in red hot form each time he represented the City Blue, scoring nine goals in four matches; a record-equalling feat set by Dixie Deans (Adelaide City, 1977), John Kosmina (Sydney City, 1984) and Carl Veart (Adelaide City, 1994) in the National Soccer League.
Scoring multiple goals in each match – three braces and a hat-trick – Maclaren also achieved a feat not repeated since Damian Mori’s goalscoring exploits for Adelaide City over 20 years ago, in March 1996.
Crucial to City’s early run of form in the A-League, Maclaren credited his form to a strong start to the campaign and his off-season.
“It feels amazing to be voted by my peers, by guys that I play with and against and it just shows we’re playing some good football at the moment and I’m reaping the rewards for it,” Maclaren said.
“The off-season I had a good six weeks off for my back injury from last season and was able to just rest the body and rest the mind and come back with a full fresh mentally and physically and that did help coming back for the long pre-season.
“I’d like to thank the players that I played against and with who voted for me for this award and there’s no greater feeling that the players respect you and respect your ability.”
In the W-League, Kristen Hamilton edged out an all-American list of nominees, featuring her North Carolina Courage and Western Sydney Wanderers teammate Lynn Williams and American Simone Charley of Canberra United.
Hamilton, who joined the Wanderers following three seasons at back-to-back NWSL champions North Carolina, scored four times in three appearances for the Wanderers in November, including a hat-trick against Brisbane Roar.
Demonstrating her quick turn of pace, nous in the penalty box and powerful strike, Hamilton – who featured in the NWSL Players’ Association Team of the Season this year – has adjusted well to life in the W-League, establishing herself as one of the standout contributors.
“It’s really cool [to win the award]; obviously any award for anyone in the squad is really cool, but to me individual awards are just an indication of how well the team has done this month and we’ve started the season really well, so for me it’s just an indication of all the hard work the team has put in,” Hamilton said.
“I thanked them [my teammates]; no one wins awards without their whole team behind them and everyone puts effort in day in and day out and I would not be winning these awards without them.”
